Newly elected President Bush chose members of his cabinet from both his father's administration and past Republican administrations. Retired General Colin Powell was selected as the secretary of state, Donald Rumsfeld was chosen as secretary of defense (a post he also held under President Ford), Senator John Ashcroft from Missouri was appointed attorney general, and Gale Norton was selected as secretary of the interior. Other appointed advisors included Dr. Condoleeza Rice as national security advisor and Texan political consultant Karl Rove as chief of staff.